Userful upgrades multi-seat Linux desktop virtualization solution 18 February, 2010 By Mark Cox

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Userful is a virtualization tech company which has been in business since 1999 and selling the Multiplier multi-seat solution since 2002, but it's only in the last couple years, propelled in part by cost concerns in the down economy, that the market has really taken off. They have two main products. Userful Multiplier allows 10 monitors, mics and keyboards to be plugged into each single PC to provide huge cost savings. Userful Desktop provides locked down and secure computers for public settings.

Their main markets are schools -- they are in over 30,000 schools worldwide. But they are sold to many institutional buyers -- libraries, government, Intenet cafes, hotels, call centres, and even the military -- their computers are used by the Canadian military deployed in Afghanistan.

The multi-seat market has strong competitors on the Windows side -- with Microsoft itself moving into the space with its' soon to be released Windows Multipoint Server 2010. But on the Linux side, with customers who want its' cost savings, Userful is the clear market leader. Its' virtual desktops sell for as little as $69. That's the education pricing, which also includes the software and multiseat hardware.

"We own that Linux market, we dominate it," said Sean Rousseau, Marketing Manager for Userful. "If someone wants multi seat and wants Linux, we are the solution to use. There are others on the Windows side, and Microsoft is coming up with their own version with Windows Multipoint Server 2010."

Userful Multiplier lets a single PC support up to 10 independent users at the same time, each with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Configuration is automated, and it provides strong multimedia performance including full-screen/full-motion video.

Version V.3.7 adds additional internationalizations and multilingual support, making it possible for even more countries to take advantage of the cost savings of Userful, and for countries with multiple official languages to provide computer access in all official languages using a single solution. In addition, V.3.7 brings improved USB device support, including hot-plugging of 2-way audio devices. This makes interactive remote teaching and learning easy for rural and specialized classrooms. Userful Multiplier V.3.7 supports all major Linux distributions including Ubuntu 9.10, SLED 11, and Fedora 11. It is available in 64-bit and 32-bit packages in both RPM and DEB formats, making it compatible with virtually all open source software.

"This release will open up new markets, with the number of new languages supported," Rousseau said.

While Userful has a small direct sales force, Rousseau said the vast majority of its' sales are through its' channel partners and through OEMs.

"Our partners are extremely successful in selling our solution," Rousseau said. "They sell 100,000 seat deals on a regular basis and deploy thousands of desktops daily."

A free 2-user version of Userful Multiplier V.3.7 that turns 1 computer into 2 for personal or trial use is available from: userful.com/products/downloads/free-2-user